Italian media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi has often been seen as the teflon media mogul - always facing legal and other charges, but never really facing consequences. In Oct. 2012 though, a court sentenced the head of media group Mediaset, whose stock has been dropping amid weak ad trends, to four years in prison in a tax evasion case - marking the first time he is facing time behind bars. And just before Christmas, prosecutors also called for a prison sentence of at least one year for Berlusconi on charges of publishing information about a political rival that was obtained illegally. The three-time prime minister, meanwhile, announced he would run for a fourth term in early 2013 after having left political office in late 2011.
ROME – Mediaset, the film and television giant controlled by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Tuesday officially lost the rights to the mediaset.com Internet domain name, Italian newspapers reported.
The domain expired and was put up for action, where it was acquired by a Delaware resident named Didier Madiba for an undisclosed sum. Mediaset appealed to the World Intellectual Property Organization, saying Madiba acquired the name in bad faith, but the complaint was thrown out, saying Madiba did nothing wrong and had acquired the right to use the name legally.
Mediaset, which did not participate in the auction where Madiba bought the name, could have simply renewed their ownership of the name by paying a small fee. But the company let the deadline pass.
Madiba, until now best known for being a member of the Miss Universe competition, said plans are to sell electronic devices — collectively known as a “media set” — on the site. The case was based on the fact that the words “media” and “set” were too common to be protected as a kind of intellectual property.
Berlusconi’s lawyers will presumably appeal the decision, or they could make Madiba an offer he can’t refuse in order to reacquire rights to the name they made famous.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
-
international
Ed Sheeran Goes on Intimate Journey in New Disney+ Docuseries ‘Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All’
![]()
-
Mark Twain Prize
Adam Sandler’s Starry Friends Toast His Comic Legacy as He Receives Mark Twain Humor Prize
![]()
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
Jason Ritter
Jason Ritter Jokes His First Hollywood Job Was a “Full-on Nepotism Hire” Thanks to His Dad John Ritter
![]()
-
international
Andrew Lloyd Webber Says His Son Is Critically Ill, Will Miss ‘Bad Cinderella’ Broadway Opening
![]()
